Alstom CEO: ‘Hydrogen train in Groningen is coming’ | Abroad

The arrival of a brand new train fleet in northern Germany was a ‘world first’, as those involved called it. Although they look like all other modern regional trains in the state of Lower Saxony from the outside, there is one big difference: these cobalt blue passenger trains run entirely on hydrogen.

Between the German towns of Cuxhaven and Buxtehude and the port city of Hamburg, the first trains will run on electricity that is processed with wind energy or by electrolysis of water. By the end of this year, a total of fourteen hydrogen batteries should have replaced the old diesel locomotive.

In modest Bremervörden, a village between Bremen and Hamburg, the first official ride took place. ,,Very comfortable,” said Stephan Weil, the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, when asked how he liked the ‘train of the future’. According to the regional rail company LNVG, hydrogen can produce 4,400 tons of CO . annually₂emissions are saved.

Henri Poupart-Lafarge, the CEO of train builder Alstom, speaks of a ‘very important project’. At the beginning of 2020, the French company was already involved in the test drive between Groningen and Leeuwarden. A successful experiment that leaves you wanting more, according to the words of the Frenchman.

The tender for the four Groningen hydrogen trains is ‘still ongoing’, says a spokesperson for Arriva. The Groningen rail operator also does not want to elaborate on who is competing for the hydrogen trains.

Last week, Germany concluded an agreement with Canada on the production and export of hydrogen from 2025. The aim of the Germans is to become less dependent on (Russian) gas. Pure necessity, says Poupart-Lafarge. “Every European country must realize that hydrogen must also be imported in addition to its own production.” In addition to Canada, he also mentions Saudi Arabia as a partner.

In an interview with the British Financial Times Andrew Forrest, former CEO of General Electric Europe, says that the EU is in danger of losing the competition for green hydrogen with America. According to Forrest, Brussels should make investing in green hydrogen more attractive from a tax perspective. “Otherwise all the green capital will go to the US and you will miss the boat.”

Read more below the photo.

Poupart-Lafarge also calls for more flexible European regulations. “Hydrogen is at the beginning of its journey. There must be a complete ecosystem in which operators, producers, transporters and infrastructure are attuned to each other. Certification and homologation at European level is very important. But just as important is amending laws to raise more investment.”

Three years ago, the European Commission blocked a mega merger between Alstom and Siemens. Then the French took over the train division of the Canadian Bombardier. Would hydrogen have gone further if that fusion had taken place? ,,What-if questions are no use to me,” says Poupart-Lafarge. “Everyone in the transport sector is moving towards the same thing: hydrogen.”